City Love Companions

Brașov is a major city in Transylvania. It’s just a province in Romania, but that doesn’t sound as cool as “the Vampire Country”. Yes, this is the land that Bram Stoker envisioned as the stage for his famous story. Or so they say, because there is no actual evidence of Stoker ever visiting these areas. He did take interest in Vlad the Impaler, the infamous warlord. It is a good tourist magnet, especially the Bran Castle. It’s small and creepy as hell. Hidden passages, puzzle-like chambers; very cool stuff. It can get a little bit crowded, but it’s still worth the trip. However, there is no historical evidence of Vlad the Impaler ever taking a single step in there. Locals are rarely even bothered with that whole vampire hype. You’d expect plastic fangs around everywhere, but ...

Nicolae Ceaușescu, Count Dracula, Transylvania, gloom, misery and garlic is what most people think of when Romania comes to mind. But what do we really know about this country and its capital Bucharest? The country always possessed a unique place in Eastern Europe and especially the Romanian people think they are very different from the surrounding countries. They do not even consider themselves as Balkan people. And at least as language is concerned they are very correct. Where almost all countries in the region (except for Hungary) are considered to be Slavic, Romanians can connect easier with Italians, French et cetera. After the territory of the current Romania was part of the Roman Empire for a long time it faced many wars and conflicts, not in the last place invasions by Ottomans an...